NEW ZEALANDERS IN THE MESSINES BATTLE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3315, 26 September 1917, Page 39

NEW ZEALANDERS IN THE MESSINES BATTLE.

STORMING THE LAST OBJECTIVE. COUNTER-ATTACKS MELT AWAY. (From Malcolm Ross, Correspondent with the N.Z. Forces in the Field.) June 23. Troops among whom were eonio who fought on tho Suez Canal and on Gallipoli were allotted tho task of going forward to tho New Zealandors' farthest objective, beyond tho village of Messines. They had to establish and consolidate a line from which troops were to be sent out to a position still further forward —a position that was to be the jumping-off place for tho Australians, who had to go out to the farthest objective. During the assembly, and on previous nights, tho enemy bombarded with high explosive and with gas and tear shells. The poison gas made you sick; tho other gas mado you weep. Tho high explosive, if men wero anywhero near it, killed and wounded. Intermingled with all three, as the day wore on, was some shrapnel. Against this the only protection was the steel helmet, and if tho swish of the shrapnel was near, even the "tin" helmet might fail to stop it altogether. " THE ADVANCE. Moving in small columns, Auckland and Wellington men advanced at" 3.55 a.m. Close upon the heels of tho troops of the leading waves, through whom they passed, they went forward, avoiding Messines. By 5.25 a.m. they had captured all their objectives, and were engaged in consolidating them. On the way the Auoklanders captured two 77mm. guns, and either killed or captured the greater number of the gun crews, in spite of an attempt by the enemy to get away with the guns; in spite, also, of covering fire from a machine gun,~ which, in its turn, also, was captured. Tho Wellingtons' on the north-east of Messines had some sharp fighting. Three machine guns and 27 prisoners were taken here at a point known as Blauwen Molen. On the left the enemy were firing from shell holes. Resistance was also met with from Fanny's Farm, on the extreme left of our part of the forward line, but was soon subdued, and three Stokes mortars attached to the Wellingtons -dealt with a machine gun in Swaynes Farm and another at the junction of two trenches. These Wellingtons captured seven machine guns, five officers, and 22 other ranks in the fighting. A continuous trench was gradually constructed and completed on the following day. More Aucklands moved towards their objective—which was a switch from the other line—at 8.40 a.m., behind a ban-age that advanced as posts were established. One of the posts had to retire a little at ono stage owing to shelling from our own guns, but the line was established and held.

By 9.40 a.m . when the barrage had ceased, two units of Aucklanders were pushing out patrols to reconnoitre farther on, which was the objective of the Australian troops that wore to go through us. Messages sent back did not reach Brigade Headquarters, owing to the cutting of the Telephone lino and to the runners being killed by enemy shell fire ALARUMS AND EXCURSIONS.

Then came a period of what might be termed "alarums and excursions." Shortly after 1 o'clock in the afternoon the enemy were seen by two Auckland officers to be massing for a eotuitcr-attack. They were advancing in about 10 lines from the region of the farthest objective towards our whole divisional front. The move was also seen through telescopes from a. distant hill. An artillery barrage was turned on and the attempted counter-attack melted away. Shortly after 3 p.m. the Australian troops came through for the attack in front, and for a considerable time the forward position was uncertain. At half-past eight in the evening there was an alarm of another counter-attack, and some of the other troops came back, but nothing very much came of it, though there was - some rather heavy shelling. ACTS OF BRAVERY. There were many acts of individual bravery. The machine gunners, stretcherbearers, and runners did splendid work. The runners carried messages under constant shell fire, and several times through heavy barrages. There were always volunteers for the most dangerous work. A lance-sergeant of the Wellingtons, when his officer was wounded while attacking a number of the enemy, and when there were only a few men left in his platoon, took charge, and pushed back the attack with such boldness that over 50 were killed with rifle and grenade and the rest driven off. Ho continued to do good work during the rest of the operations. A private of the Wellingtons on the morning of the attack captured a machine gun and its entire crew. Throughout all the fighting he displayed cool courage of a very nigh order. A lance-corporal of the Wellingtons with 11 others advancing against a number of the enemy who had taken cover in shell holes did a fine thing. When his platoon commander was wounded he covered him and then rushed up and shot a party of three of the enemy. Afterwards he gave his platoon sergeant valuable help in organising an attack that resulted in the killing of a number of the enemy ing others from cover. Ho was wounded on the second day. A captain of the Aucklands chd fine work in the handling of his company on the 7th, Bth, and 9th June. He displayed great coolness throughout the whole of the operations, and managed to keep his men well in hand. At one rather critical stage when troops in front were retiring and coming through his company ho railed them and prevented many from going through to the rear. All the time he sent back valuable reports, which kept the battalion well advised of the position. When No. 2 post was being established on one of the forward lines under heavy sholl fire and also fire from enemy machine guns, an Auckland lieutenant- did fine work, ilo was twice driven out of the position,

but each time returned to tho work in hand until the position was finally made secure. This officer was already known for his work on Gallipoli, on the Sommo. and in two raids.

A corporal of a machine gun company acted with great gallantry on the morning- of the attack in the capture of a machine- gun which was afterwards used with p;ood effect against the enemy. On tho following day. his officer was wounded, and he took charge of the sub-section, handling the gun with great skill, and keeping his men under splendid control during some of the heaviest enemy shelling. A stretcher-bearer performed most gallant work in getting out the wounded during the three successive days of the hottest fighting. Ho worked practically without rest, and with an absolute disregard of hh own safety. On several occasions ho passed with wounded one way, and with empty stretchers another way, under heflvy shell fire. Others did equally gallant work, somo carrying on till they were killed or wounded, others till they dropped from fat-.gue. They earned the unbounded admiration of all who saw anything of their exertions and the dangers they ran.

The Lewis gunners worked effectively, and with the utmost disregard of danger. A lance-corporal, when troops in front were falling back, kept his gun in action all tho time, in spite of heavy shelling, and set a fino example to all in Ids vicinity. He is a man who is absolutely fearless, and who has on other occasions performed gallant work in the field.

The runners, too, excelled themselves, going through darkness, smoke, gas fumes, and shellrke with messages when all other means of communication had failed. In some instances communications devolved upon them after tho first two hours' fighting for a considerable time. One, a "private in the Aucklands, displayed great bravery in carrying messages" under heavy Bhellfire, going several times through the barrages. He remained cheerful and contented, and continued on duty until utterly fatigued and footsore. INSPECTED BY THE CORPS COMMANDER, '

On the morning of June 21 the corps commander inspected a representative parade of officers and men of one of the brigades who took part in the battle of Messines. Addressing the troops, he said: '" Officers, and Men, —I have come here to-day to thank you and to/congratulate you on what the brigade has done in the great victory which we have j List won over the Germans at the battle of Messines. The brigade had a very difficult task tc do. As you all know, it was on the left of the original assault, and you had to do what was in many ways as difficult a job as any other troops in the whole attack had to do. And if everybody had not known exactly what they had to do and how to do it, and had not thought a lot about it, and studied and worked hard, tho success would not have been anything like what it was. It was to these troops that went first over the parapet and on to Messines, of which this brigade was in the van, that we really owe in a large measure the victory. After that tho brigade was sent forward to a farther line, and you had a very difficult time and a very arduous time during the consolidation of that line. It must be a very great satisfaction to all concerned in it to', know that that line is now firmly established, and a great many of you have seen for yourselves that the Germans have been driven right back across the Lys, and that we are in close touch of Warncton und Frclinghein. To this brigade especially is due a very largo amount of the credit for that. "I remembered well when the brigado was first formed, only about 18 months ago, after the troops had come back from tho_ peninsula. I was confident then that it would not be long before the brigade would prove its worth to rank with those who had covered themselves with glory at Gallipoli. The anticipiations then formed have been more than justified. Not only on the / Somme, where it has established itself as second to no other, but also now in this great battle of Messines, its record is one of which any commander might be proud. For my part, I am very proud to have the brigade in the corps, and in any future operations I hope I shall always nave tho good fortune to have it in my commandOnce more I thank you from my heart for all you have done, and I feel sure that the people of New Zealand will be proud to hoar of the deeds of this brigade, which they can look upon as second to no brigade in the forces of the Empire." The brigade afterwards marched past to the music of one of its bands. It looked - remarkably well, the troops having made a. wonderful recovery from the strenuous ordeal through which, but a few days before, they had passed.